Direction indicator



Fb'. T4, 1939. E; C. HORTON 2,14'13406' DiRECTIoN INDICATOR Filed Aug. 4, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 Y nChofon, Q4,

AT RNEYS Feb. 14, 1939. E. C, HORTON 2,147,406

DIRECTION INDICATOR lFiled Aug. 4, 1337 2 sheets-sheet 2 um f HQI).

INVENTOR fwiyn C. Bodon,

@WCWQQMWQMI ATT@ R EYS Patented 'Feb 14, 1939 DIRECTION INDICATOR Erwin C. Horton, Hamburg, N. Y., assignor to Trico Products Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application August 4, 1937, serial No. 157,368

1o claims. (o1.177--329) The present invention relates to signal apparatus especially adapted for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine for a power plant, and to an improved control unit for signals or other devices.

I6 and I1 are electrically energized, and may be grounded, as indicated at I9, with one terminal of a battery or other electrical source 2|, and may be respectively connected by Wires 22 and 23 to control unit 24 which is 'connected by wire The invention comprehends a control unit 25 to the other terminalof electrical source 2|. whereby a signal apparatus or other device may The control unit may be mounted on the steerbe set into operation by manipulation of a coning column I5, its upper body section 2B having trol lever, the control unit causing the device an opening 21 (Fig. 2) therethrough for passing to remain operating so long as the operating a fastener for a clamp 28 that passes aboutthe 10 condition of the vehicle remains substantially the column. By manipulating handle 29, which exsame, and, when it varies by a given degree, autotends from the control unit into convenient admatically causing the device to return to normal. jacencywith the rim of the Wheel I4, the oper- The suction maintaining at the intake manifold ator of the vehicle may close a contact between of thel vehicle engine may be utilized as the operwires 25 and 22 to effect display of signal I6, or 15 ating condition which results in the device reclose a contact between wires and 23 to enermaining in operating condition, and a change gize signal I1. in suction, as when the throttle valve is opened, Secured by any suitable means to section 26 is may cause the device to return to normal. The lower body section 3I having a recess receiving control unit is adjustable to enable the return an insulating support 32 for electrical contact 20 o to normal at the point during changing operapoint 33 to which wire 25 is connected, and for tion which seemsy most desirable to the operator. Contact points 34 and 35, respectively, connected These and other objects and advantages, in-v to wires 22 and 23. Closure plate 36 fitting cluding those resulting from and residing in the around a conduit 31, through which Wires 22, 23 formation, arrangement and combination of and 25 extend, serves to retain support 32 in g5 :U parts, will become apparent from the following place. The contact points 33, 34 and 35 extend description of the typical embodiment of the through openings in body section 26 into a recess invention shown in the accompanying drawings, formed in the upper face of the section and wherein: bounded by a ridge 39 having a plane upper sur- Fig. l is a schematic elevation showing a sigface. Seated upon the latter surface is a mov- 30 "J nal system and controlunit therefor applied .to able insulating plate 40 carrying two spring cona motor vehicle in a manner contemplated by the tact fingers, of which the shorter, 4I, always invention; engages contact point 33 and the longer, 42, may

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken engage either or neither of points 34 and 35, dethrough the forward portion of the control unit; pending upon the position of movement of the 35 d" Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken plate.

appioximately along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Extending into the recess 38 is a nipple 42 Fig, 4 is a plan view of the movable parts o connected by-a conduit 43 to manifold I3, so that the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3; air may be drawn from ythe recess 38 to partially Fie. 5 is an inverted plan View 0f the upper evacuate the latter in accordance with the de- 4o casing section of the device shown in Figs. 2 and gree of suction or less-than-atmospheric pres- 3; and sure maintaining at the manifold.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the parts of the Insulating plate 40 carries a pair of metallic device which are beneath the upper casing seccups loosely receiving projections 44 depend- 45 tion in disassembled relation and arranged 1n ing from a cross-head 45 secured to the end of 45 the Order Of disassembly; and handle rod 29. Slidable on the rod is a block Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrat- 46 having a knife edge 41 seating in a bearing ing a modified or alternative construction. recess 48 in a bridge plate 49, the ends of which As shown in Fig. 1, a motor vehicle II may be rest upon lugs 5I that are formed on the upper 1 0 provided'with an engine I2 having a uid intake body section, Plate 49 is apertured, as indicated 50 d or intake manifold I3 and a steering gear including wheel I4 and column I5. Mounted on the vehicle, preferably in such manner as to be visible from the rear thereof, is a right turn indicator I5 and a left turn indicator II. Indicators at 52 to loosely pass the rod 29, and the block 46 is retained in contact with the plate by a coiled spring 53 which is backed by'a member 54 threaded, and hence adjustable, upon rod 29. As

` ing the latter seated upon ridge 39 when suction is insufficient for this purpose. Recesses 56 -in the side edges of the leaf spring are engaged by projections 44 of cross-head 45, retaining the spring against displacement from the handle rod and plate 40 assembly.

The coiled spring 53 normally urges movement of block 46 toward cross-head 45, which causes the latter and bridge plate 49 to be pressed together, lugs 5I being clamped between them. Accordingly, the rod 29 will normally be held in the neutral position shown in Fig. 5, indicated by line N in Fig. 4. In this position spring contact 42'is between contact points 34 and 35 and touching neither, so that the circuits of both signals I6 yand I1 are open.

Upon movement of handle 29 to the right, the position shown in Fig. 4 (the centre line of the handle being labeled R) the cross head 45 and plate 40 will be pivoted against the resistance of spring 53 which will be somewhat compressed. In this position contactnger 42 will contact point 34 thereby electrically closing contacts 33 and 34 and causing right turn signal I6 to be energized. Manual movement of handle rod 29 to the left (indicated by line L in Fig. 4) will cause left turn indicator I1 to become energized since contacts 33 and 35 will be electrically closed by contact iingers 4I and 42.

Upon manual setting in either direction, a

signal will be automatically maintained so long as manifold suction remains high, as while the engine is operating with partially closed throttle, because then the pressure of the atmosphere upon the upper face of plate 40 so rmly presses the latter against seating ridge 39 that the plate is friotionally held against the urge of the spring 53 to return it to neutral position. However, as soon as the suction at the manifold, and hence yin recess 38, is decreased, as for example' when the particular degree at which the operator prefers such release to 'take place.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. '7, the cross-head I55 (which is for the same purpose as cross-head 55 in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive) carried by handle rod 29 normally has its ends engaged in recesses formed on lugs I5l that extend inwardly from the side walls of the upper body section. Engaged in recesses on the opposite faces of the lugs I5I are'the ends of bridge plate I49, which, like plate 49, is apertured to loosely pass rod 29. The block 41, pressed by spring 53 which is backed by adjustable member 54, is urged toward cross-head |55, thereby causing the handle to remain in the neutral position shown by full lines in Fig. 7. Movement of the handle to the position shown in broken lines is resisted by the spring 53, sincel it resultsl in the springs compression.

It will be noted that the point of Contact of parts 41 and |49 is disposed to one side (to the right in Fig. 7) of the fulcrum points of contact of cross-head |55 with lugs I5I. This results in the line of pressure of spring 53 (the line indicated by broken line F) moving toward the effective one of said fulcrum points as the handle.

is moved to one side, andthe ensuing decrease of eii'ective lever arm compensates, at least to a considerable extent, for the increasing pressure of the spring, so that substantially uniform resistance to movement is provided throughout the entire stroke of the handle 29.

It will be understood that the devices herein illustrated and described are merely illustrative of the inventive principles involved and that such principles may be applied to other structures without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l.. In a control unit, cooperating with the fluid intake of a vehicle engine, a seat member, a movable control member having a part seating upon the seat member and slidably movable thereon, one of said members having a recess therein connectible to said uid intake whereby, when the suction of the latter is great, said members will be held frictionally against relative movement, means for moving the movable member to a predetermined position when the suction is of lesser degree, and means for varying the eect of the last mentioned means for predetermining the degree of suction at which said last mentioned means will become elective.

2. In a control unit, cooperating with the fluid intake of a vehicle engine, a seat member, a movable control member having a part seating upon the seat member and slidably movable thereon, said movable member having associated therewith means for closing and opening an electrical circuit during movement thereof, one of said members havinga connection to said fluid intake within the seat portion of the seat member whereby when the suction of the latter is of predetermined degree said movable member will be held in a set position away from a predetermined position, and means urging movement vof the movable member to such predetermined position when the suction is of lesser degree.

3. In a control unit, a seat member, a movable control member having a part seating upon the seat member and slidably movable thereon, means for applying a variable pressure to said part for frictionally holding it stationary on the seat member, means for urging movement of the movable member to a predetermined position, and means for varying the effectiveness of the last mentioned means so as to predetermine the degree of said variable pressure at which the urging means will become effective over the holding means.

4. In a control unit, a Iseat member, a movable control member having a part seating upon the seat member and movable thereon, said movable member having associated therewith means for opening and closing an electrical circuit during movement thereof, means for applying a predetermined uid pressure vto said part for frictionally holding it stationary upon the seat member, and means moving the movable member to a predetermined positiont and effective 'when the fluid pressure drops below such predetermined degree.

5. In a control unit, a rod, a membenhavingan aperture passing said rod and having a recess adjacent the aperture, a member embracing the rod and having a bearing engaging in said recess, spring means urging movement of the second member with respect to the rod toward said recess,.and a part movable with said rod and removably engaging a stop disposed laterally from said recess and on one side thereof, whereby the spring means urge the rod to a position wherein said part is engaged against said stop.

6. In a control unit, a seat member, a movable control member having a part-seating upon the seat member and slidable thereon, means for applying a predetermined pressure to said part for frictionally holding it stationary on the seat member, means for moving the movable member to a predetermined position in the absence of a predetermined pressure, and means for rendering said moving means more or less sensitive to varying pressures whereby the predetermined pressure aforesaid may be adjustably determined.

7. In a control unit, a rod, a member having a bearing, a member receiving the rod and engaging said bearing, spring means urging movement of the engaging member toward said bearing, and stops disposed laterally from said rod and on opposite sides thereof, and`parts movable with said rod and each engageable against a respective stop for fulcruming thereon during rocking of the rod, said spring means urging the rod to a position wherein said parts are both engaged against said stops.

8. In a control unit, a body member having a recess with a ridge thereabout, an insulating member slidably movable upon said ridge and forming with said recess a chamber, means for creating a pressure diiierential between the inside and the outside of said chamber for at times holding said insulating member by friction against movement upon said ridge, electrical contact means within said recess, and other electrical contact means carried by said insulating member and in circuit making or breaking association with the first mentioned electrical contact means depending upon the position of movement of the insulating member with respect to the body member.

9. In a signalling system for a vehicle having a power plant, a signal, a signal control member having a movable part, a seat member upon which said movable part is siidable, means operable by said power plant for applying a variable pressure to said part for frictionally holding it stationary on the seat member, means for urging movement of the movable member to a predetermined position, and means for varying the effect of the last mentioned means for predetermining the degree of said variable pressure at which the urging means will become effective.

10. In a control unit, a body member and a movable control member slidable thereon, there -being a recess between said members, spring means pressing the members together, and means for applying differential iiuid pressures of varying degree to the face of the movable member at the recess and the opposite face of said movable member whereby the combined effect of said spring meansv and fluid pressures will be variable, and other spring means for moving the movable Inemberto a predetermined position when said eiect produces Ainsuiiicient friction between said members to hold them against relative movement.

ERW'IN C. HORTON. 

